The Old Testament

click here The Old Testament was written prior to the coming of Jesus Christ and tells us how God called the nation of Israel into existence. God made the Jewish people a special nation, and from this nation Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, was born. The Old Testament is filled with stories of the sin of the people of Israel. God’s judgement and forgiveness, and of their final banishment into exile. Mingled with the history of Israel are the poems and songs Israel used in worship. The laws that governed the nation, and the massages of the prophets whom God sent to warn Israel about sin and judgement and to communicate his promises about deliverance and the coming of Christ. There are four types of books in the Old Testament: (story law Poetry Prophecy books )

Story Books (story law Poetry Prophecy books )

The fall of man into sin, the flood, and the formation of Israel. With the exception of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, they are the first books you will find in the Old Testament going from Genesis to Esther.

Law Books (story law Poetry Prophecy books )

The books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are primarily books of law, containing both the civil laws that governed the nation of Israel. the religious rituals that governed worship, and the moral laws that governed relationships. They do have some stories of history mixed in along with sections of law.

Poetry Books

Five books of the Old Testament fall into this category: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. The easiest one to read, and probably the most loved book of the Old Testament, is the book of psalms. (story law Poetry Prophecy books )

Prophecy Books

The last section of books are difficult to read—-the books written by the prophets (or religious teachers) of Israel. These books deals with warning about sin, impending judgments of God, promises of salvation, and predictions of Christ’s coming. They begin with Isaiah and go to the end of the Old Testament. (story law Poetry Prophecy books )